This pilot research trial studies folate receptor in diagnosing ovarian cancer using serum samples from patients with a newly diagnosed pelvic mass or previously diagnosed ovarian cancer. Studying samples of serum from patients with ovarian cancer in the laboratory may help understand the use of folate receptor induction as a clinical tool in initial diagnosis, surveillance, and recurrence.

FR will be measured in the serum of patients utilizing a standardized tritiated folate/charcoal binding assay pre- and post-drug administration. This will be measured to the femto-molar level. Two sided t-tests will be utilized as a baseline statistical analysis to determine the efficacy of induction in this setting.

Arm I: To evaluate the utility of serum FR to distinguish between patients with benign masses or malignancy. [ Time Frame: Up to 14 days after surgery ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Folate receptor levels in patients with benign and malignant conditions will be compared utilizing receiver operator curves for both pre- and post-induction levels to determine if soluble folate receptor can be utilized as a tumor marker in newly diagnosed adnexal masses and/or ovarian cancer. Both two-sided t tests and ROC curve analysis will be utilized in this portion of the analysis.

Arm II: To evaluate the use of the serum soluble FR as a marker for earlier detection of recurrent disease. [ Time Frame: Up to 14 days after induction ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Patients are to be followed during surveillance period for a history of know ovarian carcinoma with serum FR in addition to CA-125. FR will again be measured in the serum of patients utilizing a standardized tritiated folate/charcoal binding assay. This will be measured to the femto-molar level. ROC curve analysis will be performed to evaluate the efficacy of baseline Folate Receptor in early detection of relapse and compared to standard tumor markers such as CA-125.

Arm II: To evaluate the ability to increase serum FR levels with DEX and VA in the setting of recurrent disease. [ Time Frame: Up to 14 days after surgery ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

If recurrence is suspected, this portion of Arm 2 is meant to determine if serum levels of FR can be artificially increased in the recurrent setting utilizing DEX and VA above baseline recurrent levels. FR will be measured in the serum of patients utilizing a standardized tritiated folate/charcoal binding assay pre- and post-drug administration. This will be measured to the femto-molar level. Two side t-tests will be utilized to determine the efficacy of induction in this setting.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Arm I: To evaluate expression of FR via immunohistochemistry in primary vs. metastatic tumor sites in patients with ovarianmalignancy undergoing DEX & VA induction and determine if this correlates with other known markers associated with malignancy. [ Time Frame: Up to day 14 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Two sided independent t-tests will be performed to compare the expression of FR in primary vs metastatic tumor sites. Pearson's correlation coefficients will be calculated to evaluate the associations between serum FR and existing markers such as Ki67 and CA-125.

Arm I: To examine downstream targets of GR and FR induction in patient samples undergoing treatment with DEX and VA via global mRNA analysis and proteomic modalities. [ Time Frame: Up to day 14 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Patients receive valproic acid PO BID on days -7 to -3 and QD on day -2 and dexamethasone PO QD on days -5 and -2 and BID on days -4 and -3. Patients undergo collection of serum and tissue samples for analysis via PCR and IHC at baseline, time of surgery, and 7-14 days after surgery.

Drug: Dexamethasone

Given PO

Other Names:

Aacidexam

Adexone

Aknichthol Dexa

Alba-Dex

Alin

Alin Depot

Alin Oftalmico

Amplidermis

Anemul mono

Auricularum

Auxiloson

Baycuten

Baycuten N

Cortidexason

Cortisumman

Decacort

Decadrol

Decadron

Decalix

Decameth

Decasone R.p.

Dectancyl

Dekacort

Deltafluorene

Deronil

Desamethasone

Desameton

Dexa-Mamallet

Dexa-Rhinosan

Dexa-Scheroson

Dexa-sine

Dexacortal

Dexacortin

Dexafarma

Dexafluorene

Dexalocal

Dexamecortin

Dexameth

Dexamethasonum

Dexamonozon

Dexapos

Dexinoral

Dexone

Dinormon

Fluorodelta

Fortecortin

Gammacorten

Hexadecadrol

Hexadrol

Lokalison-F

Loverine

Methylfluorprednisolone

Millicorten

Mymethasone

Orgadrone

Spersadex

Visumetazone

Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis

Analysis of serum and tissue samples

Drug: Valproic Acid

Given PO

Other Names:

Depakene

Stavzor

Valproate

Experimental: Arm II (surveillance and recurrence)

Patients receive valproic acid PO BID on days -7 to -3 and QD on day -2 and dexamethasone PO QD on days -5 and -2 and BID on days -4 and -3. Patients undergo collection of serum samples for analysis via PCR and IHC at the time of clinically suspected recurrence, 2 days after completion of induction, and 7-14 days after induction.

Drug: Dexamethasone

Given PO

Other Names:

Aacidexam

Adexone

Aknichthol Dexa

Alba-Dex

Alin

Alin Depot

Alin Oftalmico

Amplidermis

Anemul mono

Auricularum

Auxiloson

Baycuten

Baycuten N

Cortidexason

Cortisumman

Decacort

Decadrol

Decadron

Decalix

Decameth

Decasone R.p.

Dectancyl

Dekacort

Deltafluorene

Deronil

Desamethasone

Desameton

Dexa-Mamallet

Dexa-Rhinosan

Dexa-Scheroson

Dexa-sine

Dexacortal

Dexacortin

Dexafarma

Dexafluorene

Dexalocal

Dexamecortin

Dexameth

Dexamethasonum

Dexamonozon

Dexapos

Dexinoral

Dexone

Dinormon

Fluorodelta

Fortecortin

Gammacorten

Hexadecadrol

Hexadrol

Lokalison-F

Loverine

Methylfluorprednisolone

Millicorten

Mymethasone

Orgadrone

Spersadex

Visumetazone

Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis

Analysis of serum and tissue samples

Drug: Valproic Acid

Given PO

Other Names:

Depakene

Stavzor

Valproate

Detailed Description:

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the pre- and post-induction correlation between soluble folate receptor and tumor-based receptor levels as a marker of malignancy in patients with newly diagnosed adnexal masses. (Arm I) II. To evaluate the ability to induce serum folate receptor (FR) with dexamethasone (Dex) and valproic acid (VPA) treatment in patients with newly diagnosed adnexal masses. (Arm I) III. To evaluate the use of the serum soluble FR as a marker for earlier detection of recurrent disease. (Arm II) IV. To evaluate the ability to induce FR with Dex and VPA in the setting of recurrent disease. (Arm II)

III. To examine global, downstream targets of GR and FR induction in patient samples undergoing treatment with Dex and VPA.

OUTLINE: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I (INDUCTION): Patients receive valproic acid orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days -7 to -3 and once daily (QD) on day -2 and dexamethasone PO QD on days -5 and -2 and BID on days -4 and -3. Patients undergo collection of serum and tissue samples for analysis via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) at baseline, time of surgery, and 7-14 days after surgery.

ARM II (SURVEILLANCE AND RECURRENCE): Patients receive valproic acid PO BID on days -7 to -3 and QD on day -2 and dexamethasone PO QD on days -5 and -2 and BID on days -4 and -3. Patients undergo collection of serum and tissue samples for analysis via PCR and IHC at the time of clinically suspected recurrence, 2 days after completion of induction, and 7-14 days after induction.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

For study Arm 1, female subjects of childbearing potential or less than 2 years postmenopausal agree to use an acceptable form of contraception from the time of signing informed consent until 30 days after study completion unless total hysterectomy performed at the time of original operation

Able to provide informed consent

Performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2

Study Arm 1: primary diagnosis of a pelvic or adnexal mass of presumed gynecologic origin who is scheduled for operative resection

Study Arm 2: previously diagnosed with a non-mucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (including serous, clear cell, and endometrioid histologies as well as borderline ovarian tumors) currently undergoing routine surveillance for recurrence, having been diagnosed with recurrence but prior to initiation of chemotherapy. . Patients from Study Arm 1 will automatically be included in Study Arm 2 as well unless they withdraw consent. Finally, patients who have been diagnosed with an ovarian cancer of acceptable histology but not yet initiated adjuvant chemotherapy are eligible for Study Arm 2.

Exclusion Criteria:

Known sarcomatous histologies

Current usage of VPA or Dex, if patient has been on these medications in the past but is not currently taking them she is still a candidate for the study. Prior use must be greater than one month for VPA. There is no "wash out" period required for DEX.

Any contraindication to dexamethasone or valproic acid such as known allergies or sensitivity

Greater than 3 x the ULN for total bilirubin (except for known cases of Gilbert's syndrome, where the levels of conjugated bilirubin must be less than 3 x the ULN)

Greater than 1.5 x the ULN for blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

Greater than 1.5 x the ULN for creatinine

Chronic or acute pancreatitis as evidenced by clinical or pathologic diagnosis

Significant acute or chronic medical, neurologic, or psychiatric illness in the subject that, in the judgment of the Investigator, could compromise subject safety, limit the subject's ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study

For study Arm 2, patients that are currently undergoing chemotherapy for recurrence; maintenance chemotherapy is not considered an exclusion criteria. Additionally, as noted above if a patient has not yet begun chemotherapy for recurrence or adjuvant chemotherapy for initial diagnosis they are still a candidate to be enrolled on this Study arm.

Contacts and Locations

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02520115